{"id":52579,"date":"2020-04-15T17:00:23","date_gmt":"2020-04-15T17:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2020\/04\/15\/chinas-global-logistics-chain-making-strides-but-projecting-military-power-still-a-struggle\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T23:50:04","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:50:04","slug":"chinas-global-logistics-chain-making-strides-but-projecting-military-power-still-a-struggle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/global\/asia-pacific\/2020\/04\/15\/chinas-global-logistics-chain-making-strides-but-projecting-military-power-still-a-struggle\/","title":{"rendered":"China\u2019s global logistics chain makes strides, but projecting military power still a struggle"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 China\u2019s armed forces <\/a>will continue their efforts to project military power outside the country\u2019s region through 2030, according to a new analysis of its logistics capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

China has made huge investments toward imposing \u201cunacceptable costs\u201d on potential adversaries inside the first and second island chain in the South and East China seas, concluded the analysis from Jane\u2019s<\/a>, done under the auspices of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. The country has also stepped up efforts to support disaster relief and participate in global commons operations such as counter-piracy work in the Middle East<\/a>, the analysis added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But when it comes to supporting large-scale expeditionary operations in far-flung regions, China is still a way off, Jane\u2019s reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The study found that China is using new investments such as its base in Djibouti to monitor and potentially disrupt U.S. operations in the Middle East and Africa, but opined that it\u2019s unlikely China will continue expanding its international footprint in this decade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHowever, after 2030, the [People\u2019s Liberation Army] will likely pursue more dedicated military bases beyond its existing Djibouti Logistics Support Base,\u201d the study found. \u201cThe PLAN [Navy] and PLAAF [Air Force]\u2019s capabilities in 2035 would theoretically allow the PLA to perform higher-level overseas combat operations, but operations in contested environments will almost assuredly require overseas military facilities or, at the least, preferred access to both ports and airfields in friendly countries.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t